1. Academic Validation
  2. Regulation of T Cell Receptor Signaling by DENND1B in TH2 Cells and Allergic Disease

Regulation of T Cell Receptor Signaling by DENND1B in TH2 Cells and Allergic Disease

  • Cell. 2016 Jan 14;164(1-2):141-155. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.11.052.
Chiao-Wen Yang 1 Caroline D Hojer 1 Meijuan Zhou 2 Xiumin Wu 2 Arthur Wuster 3 Wyne P Lee 2 Brian L Yaspan 4 Andrew C Chan 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Immunology, Genentech, One DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
  • 2 Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, One DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
  • 3 Department of Human Genetics, Genentech, One DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Genentech, One DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
  • 4 Department of Human Genetics, Genentech, One DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
  • 5 Research, Genentech, One DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

The DENN domain is an evolutionary conserved protein module found in all eukaryotes and serves as an exchange factor for Rab-GTPases to regulate diverse cellular functions. Variants in DENND1B are associated with development of childhood asthma and other immune disorders. To understand how DENND1B may contribute to human disease, Dennd1b(-/-) mice were generated and exhibit hyper-allergic responses following antigen challenge. Dennd1b(-/-) TH2, but not other TH cells, exhibit delayed receptor-induced T cell receptor (TCR) downmodulation, enhanced TCR signaling, and increased production of effector cytokines. As DENND1B interacts with AP-2 and Rab35, TH2 cells deficient in AP-2 or Rab35 also exhibit enhanced TCR-mediated effector functions. Moreover, human TH2 cells carrying asthma-associated DENND1B variants express less DENND1B and phenocopy Dennd1b(-/-) TH2 cells. These results provide a molecular basis for how DENND1B, a previously unrecognized regulator of TCR downmodulation in TH2 cells, contributes to asthma pathogenesis and how DENN-domain-containing proteins may contribute to other human disorders.

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